Recent figures from Somerset Council show that nearly half of the waste in the average Shepton Mallet household bin could have been recycled. The news comes as national Recycling Week kicks off, urging residents to think before they bin.

A detailed analysis reveals that 48% of the contents in local bins were recyclable, showing an 11% decrease since 2018. The study examined the waste from 550 households across Somerset, including a representation from Shepton Mallet. Despite this improvement, officials emphasise that more effort is needed, particularly in recycling food waste.

Breakdown of recyclable waste:

• 14% could be recycled at the kerbside (e.g. cardboard or drinks cans)
• 21% was food waste, suitable for the food waste bin
• 7% was garden waste and pet bedding
• 7% could be recycled at a recycling site (e.g. wood and metal)

The council attributes the 11% reduction in waste since 2018 to the Recycle More collections, which led to fewer plastic pots, tubs, and trays being discarded. There has also been a 5% reduction in food waste since 2018, showing a positive trend in local recycling habits.

Cllr Dixie Darch, Somerset Council's lead member for climate and the environment, said: "Most people in Somerset are recycling and we know that people are recycling more than they ever have. Our curbside collections mean most of our waste can be recycled from home. We're making good progress but there is always more we can do, particularly when it comes to recycling – or even better – reducing food waste. We continue to look at ways to expand this and are part of a nationally-funded trial to collect flexible plastics."

According to Somerset Council, the county's highest-ever recycling rate was recently published in their Recycling Tracker. The 2022-23 data shows that 96.6% of collected recycling remained in the UK to be turned into new products and packaging.

As Recycling Week begins, this year's theme, the Big Recycling Hunt, focuses on "missed capture": the items that can be recycled but are commonly missed in the home.

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The council conducts these surveys every five years to better understand residents' waste habits and find ways to make it easier to reduce waste and recycle more. So, think twice the next time you're about to throw something in the bin, Shepton Mallet. Your small action could make a big difference.